#joqlly

Now she had Graham.

Mary Margaret’s husband David had introduced her to him, though his intention was not to set them up. Graham had become his partner at the sheriff’s department around Christmas the year before and since he had just moved to town, David and Mary Margaret had invited him over for Christmas. They had done the same for Regina and so the four of them had a small and cozy Christmas together. She had spent the afternoon talking with Graham and for the first time in almost two Christmases, she almost felt cheerful.

She and Graham started to spend more time both with Mary Margaret and David and without them. Both agreed it was nothing serious, just two people who enjoyed each other’s company spending time together, occasionally overnight in the same bed. Around the summer, though, they decided to evolve their friends-with-benefits situation into an actual romantic relationship, agreeing to date each other exclusively. Fun beach dates and steamy nights soon turned into cozy autumn afternoons curled up under blankets and watching movies. With winter officially starting and the first snowfall predicted within a week, she was looking forward to ice skating dates and hot toddy nightcaps.

Most of all, she was ready to feel love, hope and joy again.

“I never thought I would see that smile again,” Mary Margaret said, pulling Regina from her thoughts.

“What smile?” Regina asked, tilting her head.

Her friend chuckled. “The I’m-so-in-love-and-very-happy smile. You used to have it all the time when Daniel was alive and then it went away. Now it’s back, so I’m guessing things are going well with Graham.”

“They are,” Regina replied. She looked around, making sure her boyfriend wasn’t lurking around to overhear what she was going to say. Even though she didn’t see him, she lowered her voice as she said: “Let me show you one of the things I’m getting him for Christmas.”

She turned around and opened a drawer on her hutch, pulling out a small thin box. Regina held it out to Mary Margaret as she removed the lid, revealing a silver keychain with his initials engraved on it. Two keys were already attached to it.

Mary Margaret gasped. “Are those the keys to your house?”

“Yes,” Regina confirmed. “Graham and I discussed him moving in when his lease is up at the end of January. So this is my way of formally inviting him to move in with me.”

“Oh, Regina!” she gasped. “That’s great!”

Regina nodded, putting the lid back on and returning her present back in its hiding spot. “I didn’t think I would feel this way again but I do. And I hope it never ends.”

“I am so glad,” Mary Margaret replied, hugging her. “And I’m also hoping that you could talk to someone for me about that.”

That surprised Regina and she pulled back from her friend. “You do?”

Mary Margaret nodded. “Remember the new teacher I asked about inviting?”

“Yes,” she replied. “You said he had just moved here and didn’t know many people in the area.”

“Right. Well, he lost his wife earlier in the year so this is his first Christmas without her,” Mary Margaret explained.

Regina felt a pang in her heart, understanding the pain he had to be going through. That first Christmas without Daniel was the hardest and she had almost not even put up the decorations that year, not feeling able to celebrate. Mary Margaret had convinced her to put up one strand of lights and Regina had found comfort in them, spurring her to decorate the rest of the house in order to alleviate her pain for at least a month. It worked, though she still didn’t think she would ever truly be happy or celebrate Christmas again.

Yet here she was.

But she couldn’t imagine getting through that first Christmas without her friends, especially Mary Margaret and David. They supported her and were there for her through all her tears and fears, ready with a comforting word or hug. If she could bring some comfort to Mary Margaret’s new colleague, she would feel as if she was starting to pay it forward.

“I can talk to him,” she agreed. “Where is he?”

“Let’s go find him,” Mary Margaret said, taking Regina’s hand. She led her out of the dining room and across the foyer into Regina’s living room. All the other guests were in there, separated into their own little groups as they laughed and chatted while Christmas music played in the background.

Regina waved to those she passed before Mary Margaret came to a stop in front of Regina’s armchair. Sitting there was a man about their age who wore a dark green sweater over a white collared shirt and paired with black pants. He seemed startled, looking up at them with wide blue eyes. “Um, hi, Mary Margaret,” he said, revealing a slightly British accent.

“Hi, Robin,” she replied, pulling Regina forward. “I wanted you to meet my friend, Regina Mills. Regina, this is Robin Locksley.”

He stood and shook her hand. “Thank you for inviting me. You have a lovely home and this is a great party.”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself,” she said, though she wondered if he had been sitting in that chair since arriving rather than socializing.

Mary Margaret beamed. “I’m going to let you two get to know each other better. Excuse me.”

She left and Regina rolled her eyes, chuckling a bit. “Sorry about her.”

“That’s okay,” he said, though she noticed he stopped looking her in the eyes. He then shifted from foot to foot. “I don’t know what she told you but I’m not interested in dating anyone right now.”

Regina played back her friend’s words and bit back a groan. This man didn’t know anything about her and so would no doubt assume their mutual friend was trying to set them up, which was the last thing he needed after losing his wife.

“I have a boyfriend,” she assured him. “You’ve probably met him, he’s around here somewhere. That’s not why Mary Margaret wanted us to meet. She, um, told me about your late wife and that this is your first Christmas without her. I have some experience with that.”

He raised his eyes to meet hers again, unmasked pain in them. “You do?”

She nodded, motioning toward the chairs. “Have a seat.”